dk eyewitness travel guide

Make every trip extraordinary with DK travel books. Simple formats and layouts in our hyper visual guides help you to plan the trip of a lifetime – whether that’s dining at a trattoria like a local in Italy or gazing at The Starry Night on a visit to MoMA in New York City. Our inspirational coffee table travel books will take you to places you've only dreamed of – making the remote familiar, and the unimaginable possible, all from the comfort of your own home.

You Deserve Good Gelato

Where to Go When Great Britain and Ireland

When's the best time to visit London? When are the Scot...

Screen Traveller's Guide

Put yourself in the movie! Step inside dozens of real-l...

Hello, South Korea

Korea is a global phenomenon. K-pop tops the charts, ki...

In her inimitably funny and feel-good way, social media...

DK Eyewitness Southwest USA and National Parks

Stunning rock formations, ancient settlements, and vibr...

Europe by Train

Take to the rails and have a European adventure with th...

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Explore the world's most stunning gardens and gain expe...

It's hard to beat the satisfaction of travelling on foo...

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In love with all things Japan or looking to absorb a li...

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There's so much to love about Mexico. Indigenous tradit...

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DK Eyewitness Australia

Get closer to Australia with DK EyewitnessSnorkelling o...

DK Eyewitness Cambodia and Laos

Get closer to Cambodia and Laos with DK EyewitnessTouri...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Seoul

The world's bestselling pocket guidesMake the most of y...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Singapore

The world’s bestselling pocket travel guidesMake the mo...

DK Eyewitness Morocco

Get closer to Morocco with DK Eyewitness.Meandering thr...

DK Eyewitness Italy

Get closer to Italy with DK Eyewitness. Marvelling at t...

DK Eyewitness New York City

Get closer to New York City with DK EyewitnessA theatre...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Boston

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New York City

DK Eyewitness Norway

Get closer to Norway with DK EyewitnessA hike around th...

DK Eyewitness Road Trips France

Tranquil valleys, rugged coastline, rolling farmland: F...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete

Make the most of your trip to Crete with DK Eyewitness ...

DK Eyewitness Mexico

Whether you want to explore jungle-clad Mesoamerican py...

DK Eyewitness Madrid

Explore manicured parks and historic plazas. Tapas tast...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Athens

Make the most of your trip to Athens with DK Eyewitness...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Seattle

Planning is a breeze with our simple lists of ten, cove...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Vancouver and Vancouver Island

Make the most of your trip to Vancouver and Vancouver I...

DK Eyewitness Canada

Whether you want to hike up snow-capped mountain peaks,...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New England

New England is a region of limitless possibility, home ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Sicily

Ringed by dazzling blue waters, sun-dappled Sicily and ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Greek Islands

With crystal-clear waters, picturesque villages and leg...

DK Eyewitness Barcelona and Catalonia

Whether you want to tick off the Modernisme marvels in ...

DK Eyewitness San Francisco and the Bay Area

Emerging from the fog, San Francisco tempts with its sc...

DK Eyewitness Sweden

Whether you want to glimpse the spectacular Northern Li...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Valencia

With its mild winters and warm summers, Valencia promis...

DK Eyewitness Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Whether you want to explore Jerusalem’s religious sites...

DK Eyewitness New Orleans

Whether you want to attend the world's biggest party, t...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New Orleans

A fusion of African, Caribbean and European cultures, N...

DK Eyewitness Brazil

Energetic cities, lush rainforests and more diverse wil...

DK Eyewitness Thailand

Whether you want to experience Bangkok's mouth-watering...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Cancún and the Yucatán

Home to stunning Caribbean beaches, epic Mayan sites an...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Two iconic cities that have rewritten the record books,...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Honolulu and O'ahu

Aloha! Explore the natural and cultural beauty of Honol...

The Screen Traveller's Guide

DK Eyewitness Portugal

Whether you're looking for world-renowned beaches, sere...

DK Eyewitness Rome

Whether you want to wander through the ruins of the Rom...

DK Eyewitness Scotland

Whether you want to explore Edinburgh Castle, drive the...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Berlin

Shaped by its fascinating history and a cool and creati...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 London

The world's bestselling pocket guidesWith its staggerin...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris

Capital of romance and revolution, a maze of streets ma...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Prague

Best known for its picture-perfect buildings and gorgeo...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Rome

One of the most famous cities in the world, historic Ro...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Amsterdam

With its cafés and canals, modern art galleries and col...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Barcelona

With its compelling history, legendary architecture and...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Iceland

The world's bestselling pocket guidesStriking, evocativ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Lisbon

Lisbon might be one of the world's oldest cities but th...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Vienna

Vienna may be famous for its monumental palaces and cla...

DK Eyewitness New Zealand

Welcome to New Zealand, the land of the long white clou...

DK Eyewitness South Africa

Whether you're hoping to catch a glimpse of nature's mo...

DK Eyewitness Croatia

Whether you want to visit the medieval walled city of D...

DK Eyewitness Malaysia and Singapore

Whether you want to marvel at Gardens by the Bay, trek ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Cape Town and the Winelands

Perched at the foot of Africa, Cape Town and its surrou...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria's towering mountains, pristine beaches, co...

New York City Like a Local

Keen to explore a different side of New York City? Like...

DK Eyewitness Austria

Stunning Alpine landscapes, sparkling lakes, art-filled...

DK Eyewitness Sardinia

An atmospheric island bursting with history, culture an...

Grab your trainers and get ready to run around the worl...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Lake District

England's Lake District, with its stunning landscapes, ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Scotland

Scenic glens, dramatic mountains, postcard-pretty villa...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Azores

In the tranquil mid-Atlantic, Portugal's Azores islands...

DK Eyewitness Bali and Lombok

Whether you want to trek volcanic Mount Rinjani, surf t...

DK Eyewitness Chile and Easter Island

Whether you want to hike the soaring peaks of Torres de...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Bangkok

A city with a difference, Bangkok blends serene shrines...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Phuket

Thailand's largest island, Phuket is so much more than ...

Chicago Like a Local

Keen to explore a different side of Chicago? Like a Loc...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Hong Kong

Hong Kong has it all: futuristic buildings home to glit...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent

The four great cities of northern Belgium are home to f...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Cuba

Beyond the famous palm-fringed beaches, Cuba is unimagi...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Marrakech

Backed by the purple peaks of the Atlas Mountains, the ...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 San Diego

Home to the lively Gaslamp Quarter, world-famous Balboa...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Sydney

Overlooking one of the world's most spectacular harbour...

DK Eyewitness Vienna

A cornucopia of culture, Vienna puts art, music and the...

Go Here Instead

Bursting with beautiful photography, this alternative b...

Lisbon Like a Local

Keen to explore a different side of Lisbon? Like a Loca...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Copenhagen

Cultural, cosmopolitan and cool - Copenhagen offers stu...

DK Eyewitness Denmark

Enchanting villages, forward-thinking design and epic h...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Budapest

Cut through by the famous blue Danube, Budapest is bles...

DK Eyewitness Road Trips Northern & Central Italy

With its snow-capped mountain ranges and beautiful hill...

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Las Vegas

The most full-on, 24-hour city you could ever hope to v...

DK Eyewitness Pacific Northwest

Marrying vibrant cities with impeccable wilderness, the...

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TRAVEL PLANNING , TRAVEL TIPS · March 4, 2019 Last Updated on March 10, 2024

DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: 8 REASONS TO USE A TRAVEL GUIDE

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link.

As you scroll through Instagram, look at pictures on your iPad or read something on your Kindle – do you ever get the overwhelming desire to hold something physical in your hands? A photograph, a book and sketch? Well I certainly do! My first real ‘exotic’ trip was to Egypt when I was 18, and then after University I went on a gap year travelling through Southeast Asia.

It was 2003, long before the days of iPhones and Snapchat, and you didn’t take a mobile phone with you. You might drop into an internet cafe once a month to let your Mum know you were alive and you certainly didn’t plan your trip by pinning must see Instagram spots! Instead, you looked at physical guide books, packed with all the information that you needed to go on your trip, booked a ticket and went on an adventure.

Despite the digital options available to us these days, I am not ready to let go of that way of travel yet and I still love planning my trip with a physical guide book, like my collection of DK Eyewitness Travel Guides . I wanted to share 8 reasons why I love using a travel guide and you should too!

1) THEY MAKE ME FEEL NOSTALGIC, IN A GOOD WAY! 

I miss the way that I used to travel. I have so many stories of things that we did when I was backpacking that we probably would not have done had we had easy access to the internet to solve a travel problem. When I first travelled, we looked at our physical guidebook, read the bus times and trusted it. When we arrived in a new destination, we read the reviews of all the hostels and then walked around and found them. At dinner time, we would check the guide to discover the recommended places to eat. And for activities, of course we planned almost everything based on what was listed as the top things to do in the city or town we were in. It was simple way to travel, less choices and more adventures!

A few things I did because a guide book told me to:

• Travelled about an hour across town in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to find what was detailed as the best banana cake in town. It was!
• Trusted that a bus would arrive mid way between Vientiane and Phonsavan, Laos at a specific time (in the middle of nowhere) and whilst waiting joined a local wedding in a random tiny village we got dropped off at. Surprisingly, the bus did come at the time the book said! 
• Ate the best pizza in Florence, but had to wait a very long time to get my hands on it – because it truly was the best pizza and the place was packed.

2) YOU CAN FIND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IN ONE PLACE

Tired of scouring several websites, blogs and magazines to plan your trip? Yep, me too! Using a guide book gives you all the information that you need in one place. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guides contain information to inspire whilst you are thinking about booking your trip, details such as best time to visit to plan your trip, in depth knowledge of the country and city to help you discover the very best it has to offer and finally all of the on the ground information you need to fully experience the destination. With the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides you will find maps, suggested itineraries, history, facts, best places to stay, eat and drink, top activities and so much more. Guaranteed you will only need one book to plan your itinerary, but if you need more of course they have you covered and have the official websites for their recommendations included in each book.

3) GET BITE SIZE PIECES OF INFORMATION ABOUT EACH PLACE

I like to research a place before I visit, but often I get overwhelmed by the information and history available. In a guide book, you get a few sentences introducing a town, what it’s famous for and the must do activities. In the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides throughout the books you get little snippets of history or facts that you might otherwise not discover. I really enjoy having smaller bits of key information instead of getting lost for 3 hours on Wikipedia somehow learning about the different grain techniques used to make bread. The guidebooks give you what you need so you can go on and enjoy your trip!

4) IT’S EASY TO PLAN YOUR TRIP AND HIGHLIGHT THINGS YOU WANT TO DO 

Each DK Travel Guide contains perfectly laid out itineraries for the entire country, including must see stops and restaurants. With the amount of information on the Internet today it’s easy to get overwhelmed and try to cram too many stops or activities into a trip. Using the guidebook, you can lookup a great itinerary based on how much time you have to spend in the country. There’s also a year long calendar of events in each guide so you can plan for those unique seasonal experiences!

5) YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING ACCESS TO WIFI TO LOOK SOMETHING UP

Ever got lost in a city, pulled out your phone and realised you don’t have WiFi to quickly access a map or search for a nearby spot to have lunch? I am pretty sure the answer is yes. This has happened to me on countless occasions and frustratedly leads you to pick whatever place is closest and probably not the best to eat. Having a guide book eliminates this need for WiFi, and the side benefit is you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the destination that you are visiting by not checking your phone every 4 minutes. 

6) YOU CAN WRITE NOTES IN THE BOOKS

I like to highlight the things I want to see, and write notes before, during and after a trip in the book. I make sure to fold down the pages of specific activities, sights or restaurants I want to go to and then I note them all down on the map. I am a big fan of creating my own walking tour in a city, by jotting down all the locations on the map and then planning an optimal route to see everything. This is much easier in a physical book, and really helps to feel like you are making memories about the destination you are in.

7) REAL EXPERTS HAVE WRITTEN THEM

Whilst blogs (like this one!) and online guides are a great way to plan your trip, they are typically from one person’s point of view. The blog author may have some great recommendations, but chances are they were only in that place for a few days and tried a handful of activities, restaurants and maybe just one hotel.

A DK Eyewitness Travel Guides gives you so much more than that. Each of the books is created by a full team of travel experts who have spent time in the country and have worked hard to curate the best travel tips and advice for the area. Carrying the book with you is like having your own personal tour guide wherever you go!

8) I HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK BACK AT LATER

I used to keep journals when I travelled and collected ticket stubs, postcards and other paper items to stick into the journal. I love to have something to look back at to remind me of a destination that I visited and what I saw when I was there. I no longer keep a journal, but I do keep all of my travel guides! They are great if I go back to the same destination or if someone asks me about a specific spot I visited or restaurant I loved, so I can quickly look back at the guide book and remind myself. Plus I like to have a collection of travel books on my bookshelf or to loan out to friends!

WHY DO I LOVE DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES SO MUCH? 

I have given you my personal reasons for favouring using a traditional guide book, but why do I love the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides so much? Well, first of all they are from England and being British I do love to support some home grown companies! But seriously, I love these books for a few reasons. The Eyewitness Guides are packed with information, but also a manageable size, unlike some other guidebooks which are just too big to carry around with you for the day. Each city guide comes with a handy map at the back which you can pull out and mark up your walking route, which is especially great in cities. The guides are in colour, with photos and sketches. As an artist myself, I work visually and I like to easily be able to pick out my top things to do in a destination by seeing an inspiring photo in a book. Finally, I’ve found all the tips in the guides to be perfectly aligned with what I want to see and do, and there are recommendations for every type of traveller.

In today’s modern world it’s easy to get caught up in moving as fast as possible, but I can’t begin to tell you how nice it feels to slow down with a physical guide book and a good cup of tea while planning my next trip!

We hope that this article has inspired you buy some travel guides to plan your next vacation. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Please visit our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.

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We Are Travel Girls Founder Becky van Dijk of  BeckyvanDijk.com Connect with Becky  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  YouTube

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This article is part of a promotional partnership with DK Books. As with any recommendations we personally make on this website we have used and loved the Eyewitness Travel Guides and recommend them based on our personal experience. 

This website may use affiliate links in our articles. Please see our  Disclosures  for more information.

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Tilly Jaye Horseman says

March 6, 2019 at 6:30 am

The DK Eyewitness Guides are my favourite travel guides too! I have so many on my shelves and don’t travel without them (assuming there’s one for the area I’m in of course!) can’t beat them in comparison to any other guide. I am an artist too, so probably like them for the same reasons you do – they are so visual and eye catching! Love their layout!

March 9, 2019 at 3:00 am

Really trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading.

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DK Eyewitness New York City (Travel Guide) Paperback – Folded Map, March 1, 2022

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• Print length 328 pages
• Language English
• Publisher DK Eyewitness Travel
• Publication date March 1, 2022
• Dimensions 8.58 x 1.02 x 5.08 inches
• ISBN-10 0241510600
• ISBN-13 978-0241510605
• See all details

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About the author.

About DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : the most maps, photography, and illustrations of any guide.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ DK Eyewitness Travel (March 1, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241510600
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241510605
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.03 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.58 x 1.02 x 5.08 inches
• #173 in General New York State Travel Guides
• #534 in Mid Atlantic US Travel Books
• #2,161 in Tourist Destinations & Museums Guides

About the author

Dk eyewitness.

Explore the world with DK Eyewitness travel books. Our award-winning travel guides are compiled by real travellers and globe-trotting experts who provide trusted advice to over 200 global destinations. Brimming with stunning photography, detailed maps, sage advice and top tips; our highly visual guides contain everything needed for the trip of your dreams.

DK Eyewitness travel will help you live ‘Like a Local’ in new and exciting cities, or visit those ‘Top 10’ essentials, or plan that epic road trip. Whether it's a holiday of a lifetime, exploring a new continent or a city break, step into your next adventure with DK Eyewitness travel books.

Winner, Gold Award, Top Guidebook at the 2020 Wanderlust Magazine Reader Travel Awards.

Winner of the Travel Media Awards 2019 Guide of the Year for DK Eyewitness New York City.

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